"Since this poor face of mine doth so affright thee
Here's one of paint that mayhap shall delight thee.
Take it, Yolande, for thee the craftsmen wrought it,
For thee I from Duke Jocelyn have brought it.
If day and night thou 'lt wear it, fair Yolande,"
And speaking thus, he gave it to her hand.
Its golden frame full many a jewel bore,
But 't was the face, the face alone she saw.
And viewing it, Yolanda did behold
A manly face, yet of a god-like mould.
Breathless she sate, nor moved she for a space,
Held by the beauty of this painted face;
'Neath drooping lash she viewed it o'er and o'er,
And ever as she gazed new charms she saw.
Then, gazing yet, "Who--what is this?" she sighed.
"Paint, lady, paint!" Duke Joc'lyn straight replied,
"The painted visage of my lord it shows--
Item: one mouth, two eyes and eke a nose--"
"Nay, Fool," she murmured, "here's a face, meseems,
I oft have seen ere now within my dreams;
These dove-soft eyes in dreams have looked on me!"
Quoth Joc'lyn: "Yet these eyes can nothing see!"
"These tender lips in accents sweet I've heard!"
Quoth Joc'lyn: "Yet--they ne'er have spoke a word!
But here's a face at last doth please thee well
Yet hath no power to speak, see, sigh or smell,
Since tongueless, sightless, breathless 't is--thus I
A sorry Fool its needs must e'en supply.
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